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Commission grants conditional use permit to Trig Minerals for mining on patented claims in Anamone/Antimony Canyon
Summary
After a staff presentation detailing patented mining claims, testing activities and regulatory oversight, the Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for Trig Minerals LLC to operate on multiple parcels in the Anamone/Ammonia/Antimony Canyon area. Commissioners discussed potential employee housing, smelter activity in Iron County, and local economic benefits.
The Garfield County Planning Commission voted to grant Trig Minerals LLC a conditional use permit to mine across multiple patented claims in the Anamone/Ammonia/Antimony Canyon area.
Planning staff explained that the company’s activity is limited to patented, privately owned mining claims east of Ammonia Canyon and that environmental oversight and permits remain within DEQ and state/federal purview. Staff said Trig has been conducting testing — including drilling and grid-based electrical surveys — and noted the company has met with local leaders, the county commissioners and state officials. "They're actually gonna become a publicly traded mining company," the staff member said, and later added, "We just wanna give them their conditional use permit and kinda get out of the way."
Commissioners raised community concerns including temporary employee housing (staff reported RV clusters on a parcel owned by the local fire chief), possible smelter operations in Iron County to which ore would be trucked, and local reactions in Antimony where residents initially opposed but more recently indicated support. The committee member moved to approve the CUP for "Trig Minerals LLC in Anamone Canyon for all the parcels listed;" another commissioner seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote.
The commission’s action authorizes county-level mining activity on the listed patented parcels; state permitting (DEQ) and any facility siting outside county jurisdiction (for example, a smelter in Iron County) remain subject to other agencies’ approvals. Commissioners noted potential job creation but did not set conditions in the recorded discussion beyond the CUP approval.
